Tech and corporate employees fired over old posts

Employees at technology and consumer companies. All of these cases date from 2013 to 2018. 4 published news cases, 2013 to 2018.

Scan yours first Every case links to its news source. Names left out on purpose.

Compiled by Dave Fradette · Updated October 20, 2026

4 of 4cases ended with the person losing the job, seat, admission or license.

In all 4 the person lost the role: 4 were dismissed. The content most often concerned politics (1), the workplace (1), race (1).

By type: post or comment (2), like (1), photo (1). Of these, 1 involved a like (see all cases of likes costing jobs).

These counts come from cases collected here. They are not a survey and say nothing about how often this happens. Names are left out, and each case links to its source.

For how screening works for this group, see the Guide for tech and corporate.

The 4 cases

Lost the role2018Hourly social media employee, hotel chain, Omaha, NELiked a tweet from a Tibetan advocacy group thanking the company for listing Tibet as a country in a customer surveyLikeTech and corporate
What surfaced
Liked a tweet from a Tibetan advocacy group thanking the company for listing Tibet as a country in a customer survey
How it came out
Reported by the Wall Street Journal during the company's dispute over the survey
Outcome
Fired; he said the tweet didn't stand out among hundreds he reviewed that shift
What to look for in your own history
This like was made from the company's account, so a personal export wouldn't contain it. It shows how a single like can be read as an organization's position.
Source: Quartz, One Mile at a Time
Lost the role2016Newly hired program manager, major social media company, San FranciscoA deleted Facebook rant calling the city's streets "overrun by crazy, homeless, drug dealers, dropouts, and trash"Post or commentTech and corporate
What surfaced
A deleted Facebook rant calling the city's streets "overrun by crazy, homeless, drug dealers, dropouts, and trash"
How old it was
About 3 years
How it came out
A tech site's story on the hire resurfaced a saved copy
Outcome
Fired within about a day; he called it "the stupidest mistake of my life"
What to look for in your own history
Posts or comments a stranger could read as demeaning a group, mocking a tragedy or wishing harm on someone.
Source: GeekWire, Engadget
Lost the role2014Export project manager, clothing company, FranceA photo of an unreleased collection on her private Facebook account; she had a contractual duty to keep it confidentialPhotoTech and corporate
What surfaced
A photo of an unreleased collection on her private Facebook account; she had a contractual duty to keep it confidential
How old it was
Weeks
How it came out
A colleague who was a Facebook friend emailed it to the employer
Outcome
Dismissed for gross misconduct. In 2020 France's highest civil court rejected her appeal, finding the evidence necessary and proportionate for the employer to protect its confidentiality
What to look for in your own history
Photos aren't read by the scan today. Review old photos by hand, including ones on accounts close to you.
Source: Actu-Juridique, Cour de cassation, appeal 19-12.058 (judgment text)
Lost the role2013Corporate communications executive, internet company, New York, NYA tweet about travelling to Africa: "Hope I don't get AIDS. Just kidding. I'm white!"Post or commentTech and corporate
What surfaced
A tweet about travelling to Africa: "Hope I don't get AIDS. Just kidding. I'm white!"
How old it was
1 day
How it came out
The tweet spread on Twitter while she was on a flight
Outcome
Fired the next day; the company said the content did not reflect its views and that it had "parted ways" with her
What to look for in your own history
Posts or comments a stranger could read as demeaning a group, mocking a tragedy or wishing harm on someone.
Source: O'Dwyer's, IOL

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PruneSocial scores the text in your own account exports, including likes and comments, against published screening categories and gives you one cleanup action for anything flagged. It also lists political, news-event and workplace commentary separately as reputation flags. Try a free 50-item preview.

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